[Z06] Another Z engine bit the dust yesterday
#1
Tech Contributor
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Location: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
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Another Z engine bit the dust yesterday
Was at the Glen yesterday when one of the other participants lost his engine between turn 1 and 2. Dropped enough oil that they couldnt clean it up by 4:30 so they closed the track an hour early. This brings the total that I personally know about to 9.
Bill
Bill
#2
Sr.Random input generator
That's very sad. What year was it?
#4
Le Mans Master
So glad mine is in the shop getting PRC heads
#5
That's a lot of motors Bill.
#7
Melting Slicks
Thanks for the information Bill it has been so helpful and enlightening.
Cheers, Paul.
#8
Le Mans Master
Did you get a chance to talk to the driver/owner to get specific info about the car? In a C6z between 1 and 2 at the glen what mph gear and rpm would a driver most likely be at? Could there have been a missed down shift?
#9
Safety Car
It's a bummer either way, but heavily tracked cars need more maintenance that traditional vehicles. If this failure was a weekend warrior with a few track days under it's belt, then that's an issue and worthy of complaint.
If it's a "been racing the car for years" semi-pro kind of guy, then this would fall under "maintenance failure" IMHO. Where the line is drawn specifically, I don't know. But I'd guess Katech, LG and others' tear-down schedules are a good place to start. For now, I'll wait for more info before assuming; but given Bill's experience, I'd guess "heavy" track use in the absence of clarification.
Might as well be surprised that the carbon ceramic Z07 rotors fail after a few years of road courses, or that crankcase/trans/differential oils need to be replaced more frequently - there has to be a reasonable limit to what we blame valves for, IMHO.
What I really don't like, are the low mile garage queens that pop, totally screwing the non-racer with a hefty repair bill. For heavily raced cars, cylinder head maintenance should be on the list along with tires, oil(s), rotors and suspension: **** wears out more quickly than OEM when you flog it like someone else's mean dog on a track for a few years.
Of course we all know that when any engine blows it is a weak stock exhaust valve at fault, there's no way oil starvation, cast pistons, constant race use and/or over-revs, etc, etc, ever had anything to do with it, GM is always at fault. That's why threads that start like this one with ABSOLUTELY no information other than "another engine blew" are so important to making the internet and this forum so useful
Might as well be surprised that the carbon ceramic Z07 rotors fail after a few years of road courses, or that crankcase/trans/differential oils need to be replaced more frequently - there has to be a reasonable limit to what we blame valves for, IMHO.
What I really don't like, are the low mile garage queens that pop, totally screwing the non-racer with a hefty repair bill. For heavily raced cars, cylinder head maintenance should be on the list along with tires, oil(s), rotors and suspension: **** wears out more quickly than OEM when you flog it like someone else's mean dog on a track for a few years.
Last edited by Random84; 04-27-2013 at 10:11 AM.
#10
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watkins_Glen_International
Last edited by Mark2009; 04-27-2013 at 10:26 AM.
#11
Race Director
IF it's a regular wondering why the owner never heard there's a potential issue w/ heads? Ever speak with the guy? Why on earth an informed owner wouldn't have their head redone for heavier track usage is a real mystery to me.
#12
Safety Car
I see the "it won't happen to me, because this was a case of abuse" crowd is in full force this morning.
Denial (I'm not checking my valves)
Anger (I've checked my valves and I'm posting a video. Eff GM)
Bargaining (if I don't abuse my car, will you spare it mr corvette god)
Depression (ill just get rid of it and move on)
Acceptance. (My heads are fixed and the beast is back)
Maybe I'll start a poll to see which stage forum members are in.
Denial (I'm not checking my valves)
Anger (I've checked my valves and I'm posting a video. Eff GM)
Bargaining (if I don't abuse my car, will you spare it mr corvette god)
Depression (ill just get rid of it and move on)
Acceptance. (My heads are fixed and the beast is back)
Maybe I'll start a poll to see which stage forum members are in.
Last edited by jedblanks; 04-27-2013 at 11:00 AM.
#13
Burning Brakes
I see the "it won't happen to me, because this was a case of abuse" crowd is in full force this morning.
Denial (I'm not checking my valves)
Anger (I've checked my valves and I'm posting a video. Eff GM)
Bargaining (if I don't abuse my car, will you spare it mr corvette god)
Depression (ill just get rid of it and move on)
Acceptance. (My heads are fixed and the beast is back)
Maybe I'll start a poll to see which stage forum members are in.
Denial (I'm not checking my valves)
Anger (I've checked my valves and I'm posting a video. Eff GM)
Bargaining (if I don't abuse my car, will you spare it mr corvette god)
Depression (ill just get rid of it and move on)
Acceptance. (My heads are fixed and the beast is back)
Maybe I'll start a poll to see which stage forum members are in.
#15
#16
Le Mans Master
I see the "it won't happen to me, because this was a case of abuse" crowd is in full force this morning.
Denial (I'm not checking my valves)
Anger (I've checked my valves and I'm posting a video. Eff GM)
Bargaining (if I don't abuse my car, will you spare it mr corvette god)
Depression (ill just get rid of it and move on)
Acceptance. (My heads are fixed and the beast is back)
Maybe I'll start a poll to see which stage forum members are in.
Denial (I'm not checking my valves)
Anger (I've checked my valves and I'm posting a video. Eff GM)
Bargaining (if I don't abuse my car, will you spare it mr corvette god)
Depression (ill just get rid of it and move on)
Acceptance. (My heads are fixed and the beast is back)
Maybe I'll start a poll to see which stage forum members are in.
#17
Team Owner
if you saw my original post....my 07 has 77K on it and hasn't had an issue....will it??? Maybe...IDK....do I track it? No....do I occasionally drive it like I stole it? yep...
are there some legitimate issues..... perhaps .....is it full blown epidemic? inconclusive.
do people post stuff to stir the pot? absolutely
do people do stuff and lie about it on the internet? yepper
would they ever do that to the dealer to try and it get it fixed under warranty? you betcha
was the guy the OP posted about under warranty? we don't know...if so what will he do?
these and many other questions will be answered in this episode of ....
"A Z06 dropped a valve!!!!" > insert dramatic music here<
#18
Drifting
I see the "it won't happen to me, because this was a case of abuse" crowd is in full force this morning.
Denial (I'm not checking my valves)
Anger (I've checked my valves and I'm posting a video. Eff GM)
Bargaining (if I don't abuse my car, will you spare it mr corvette god)
Depression (ill just get rid of it and move on)
Acceptance. (My heads are fixed and the beast is back)
Maybe I'll start a poll to see which stage forum members are in.
Denial (I'm not checking my valves)
Anger (I've checked my valves and I'm posting a video. Eff GM)
Bargaining (if I don't abuse my car, will you spare it mr corvette god)
Depression (ill just get rid of it and move on)
Acceptance. (My heads are fixed and the beast is back)
Maybe I'll start a poll to see which stage forum members are in.
And acceptance (I'll drive it till it blows and HOPE the warranty fixes it, maybe I'll find a spare LS7 laying around and fix it up for when that happens)....
#19
Safety Car
It's a bummer either way, but heavily tracked cars need more maintenance that traditional vehicles. If this failure was a weekend warrior with a few track days under it's belt, then that's an issue and worthy of complaint.
If it's a "been racing the car for years" semi-pro kind of guy, then this would fall under "maintenance failure" IMHO. Where the line is drawn specifically, I don't know. But I'd guess Katech, LG and others' tear-down schedules are a good place to start. For now, I'll wait for more info before assuming; but given Bill's experience, I'd guess "heavy" track use in the absence of clarification.
Might as well be surprised that the carbon ceramic Z07 rotors fail after a few years of road courses, or that crankcase/trans/differential oils need to be replaced more frequently - there has to be a reasonable limit to what we blame valves for, IMHO.
What I really don't like, are the low mile garage queens that pop, totally screwing the non-racer with a hefty repair bill. For heavily raced cars, cylinder head maintenance should be on the list along with tires, oil(s), rotors and suspension: **** wears out more quickly than OEM when you flog it like someone else's mean dog on a track for a few years.
If it's a "been racing the car for years" semi-pro kind of guy, then this would fall under "maintenance failure" IMHO. Where the line is drawn specifically, I don't know. But I'd guess Katech, LG and others' tear-down schedules are a good place to start. For now, I'll wait for more info before assuming; but given Bill's experience, I'd guess "heavy" track use in the absence of clarification.
Might as well be surprised that the carbon ceramic Z07 rotors fail after a few years of road courses, or that crankcase/trans/differential oils need to be replaced more frequently - there has to be a reasonable limit to what we blame valves for, IMHO.
What I really don't like, are the low mile garage queens that pop, totally screwing the non-racer with a hefty repair bill. For heavily raced cars, cylinder head maintenance should be on the list along with tires, oil(s), rotors and suspension: **** wears out more quickly than OEM when you flog it like someone else's mean dog on a track for a few years.
Did the guy regularly road race the car, Bill?
IF it's a regular wondering why the owner never heard there's a potential issue w/ heads? Ever speak with the guy? Why on earth an informed owner wouldn't have their head redone for heavier track usage is a real mystery to me.
IF it's a regular wondering why the owner never heard there's a potential issue w/ heads? Ever speak with the guy? Why on earth an informed owner wouldn't have their head redone for heavier track usage is a real mystery to me.